Summary.
Despite its being the most efficacious drug for symptom reversal in Parkinson's disease (PD), there is concern that chronic levodopa (L-DOPA) treatment may be detrimental. In this paper we review the potential for L-DOPA to 1) autoxidize from a catechol to a quinone, and 2) generate other reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overt toxicity and neuroprotective effects of L-DOPA, both in vivo and in vitro, are described in the context of whether L-DOPA may accelerate or delay progression of human Parkinson's disease.
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Received June 29, 2001 Accepted August 6, 2001 Published online June 3, 2002
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Kostrzewa, R., Kostrzewa, J. & Brus, R. Neuroprotective and neurotoxic roles of levodopa (L-DOPA) in neurodegenerative disorders relating to Parkinson's disease. Amino Acids 23, 57–63 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-001-0110-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-001-0110-x